North Korea rocket crashes

US envoy to UN: North Korea nuclear tests would be 'disastrous course'

The US envoy to the United Nations has said that North Korea has previously followed rocket launches with nuclear tests and warned Pyongyang that exploding another atomic device would be catastrophic for the impoverished country.

US Ambassador Susan Rice said :

"Clearly the potential for that pattern to persist is one that all members of the international community are mindful of and think would be a disastrous course for the North to pursue. It will only lead to the North's increased isolation."

North Korea followed its 2006 and 2009 missile launches with nuclear tests, prompting the 15-nation Security Council to impose sanctions on Pyongyang.